Leg supporting device



Jan. 5, 1937. I v Q J, SHAW 2,067,101-

LEG SUPPORT ING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1955 l llllll ///////////////////7fi7VA I 9 v 1 12 1Q '15 4 11 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS BY V Patented Jan. 5, 1937 m-l stener 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in leg supports, and has particular reference to a device for supporting'the ground engaging ends of furniture such as tables, chairs, beds or cots.

5 The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for retaining and steadying the legs of foldable furniture such as foldable camp chairs, tables and like collapsible articles, thus adding to the strength and firmness of the 10 equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for retaining and supporting the legs of foldable furniture which includes a supporting member capable of extending between said legs 15 and having recesses adapted to hold the legs in fixed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class set forth that greatly increases the factor of safety in furniture of fold- 20 able character.

In addition to the foregoing objects is that of providing a device of the class described that includes resilient means for holding the device in cooperative relation to the legs of the foldable 25 article to which it is attached. 7

A still further object is to produce a device which iSi simple in construction, economical to manufacture and easy to use.

A still furtherobject is to produce a device which will occupy a minimum amount of space and, therefore, one which will be easily stored.

A still further object is to produce a device which will be a. sufficient bearing'surface to prevent puncturing of ground cloths, tent floors, and the like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is an end view of a folding camp cot having my invention applied thereto and a por'-' tion thereof being shown in crosssection;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4; 50 Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 showing the spring extended;

Fig. '5 is a modified form showing means whereby the device may be expanded;

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of fastening;

55 and.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

When chairs, tables, beds, benches, and similar furniture are placed upon the ground it often occurs that the legs thereof cut into the small bearing surface. This causes the article of furniture to be wabbly and often unsafe. Further, when furniture is placed upon a ground cloth or canvas tent floor the legs of the furniture often punch through the tent floor, thus de- 10 stroying its utility. I have, therefore, produced a simple device into which the legs of the fur niture fit and which is held to the furniture by an adjustable means so that the furniture may be moved without further adjustment of my device.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 refer to the legs of a folding cot and it is obvious that it might represent the legs of any other piece of furniture. My invention consists of bearing members 1 and8, each having a re-' cess 9 formed therein, the purpose of the recess being to receive the ends of the legs 5 and 5. A connecting piece or spacer ll joins the bearing members 1 and 8. In order to hold the structure thus made to the article of furniture I employ a fastening element and in Figs. 1 to 4 I have shown a spring carried in a slot l2 and held therein by a pin i3. The spring consists of a coiled portion l4 and a. hooked end i 6 which engages a cross pin IT. The opposite end of the spring has a loop 18 which encircles the pin l3.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 the construction is identical with the exception that the spacer is provided with a sliding dove-tailed connection that is best illustrated in Fig. 7, thus permitting the device to be expanded to accommodate for varying distances between the legs 0 of the article being supported. In Fig. 6 I have shown the use of a strap l9 in place of the spring M. In the form shown in Fig. 5 it is necessary to fasten the spring to the eye 2| of a band 22 which encircles the spreader. Thus, my device is placed beneath the legs of an article of furniture as shown in Fig. l and the spring member unhooked from the cross pin I1 swung upwardly and engaged with a suitable portion of the supported article and due to the large bear-V ing surface of the bearing member I it will be apparent that there will be no danger of the legs thereof sinking into the ground or piercing a ground cloth upon which the out or other article may be p aced. 5

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith'shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I

10 claim:-

for retaining the legs of foldable furniture in extended position, said means including a pair of spaced earth contacting elements, each having a recess formed therein, and a spreader formed integral with each of said earth contacting elements, and a. resilient fastening device pivotably supported substantially midway of said spreader, and having a hooked extremity capable of engaging the legs cf said furniture.

JAMES T. SHAW. 

